Scotland to hold second referendum on independence from UK in 2023

Scotland to hold second referendum on independence from UK in 2023
Scotland to hold second referendum on independence from UK in 2023
Avatar of Harry Johnson
Written by Harry Johnson

The Scottish National Party conference has backed the Scottish government’s plans for the timing of another independence referendum at the “earliest” possible moment after the COVID-19 crisis.

  • Scotland’s First Minister wants second independence referendum.
  • Second Scottish independence referendum to be held by the end of 2023.
  • Referendum to be held at earliest possible moment after the COVID-19 crisis.

In a speech delivered to the Scottish National Party (SNP)’s autumn conference today, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that her party intends to hold another legal referendum on independence from the United Kingdom.

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Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that her party intends to hold another legal referendum on independence from the United Kingdom

Sturgeon said that the second Scottish independence referendum will be held by the end of 2023 if the COVID-19 pandemic is under control, and asked the British government to agree to it “in the spirit of co-operation”.

According to Sturgeon, the people in Scotland elected a new Scottish Parliament in May, which has a “clear and substantial majority in favor of an independence referendum”.

“As we emerge from the pandemic, decisions fall to be made that will shape Scotland for decades to come. So we must decide. Who should be making those decisions: people here in Scotland or governments we don’t vote for at Westminster. That is the choice we intend to offer the Scottish people in a legal referendum within this term of Parliament – COVID permitting, by the end of 2023,” she said in the speech.

Sturgeon added that “it is not up to a Westminster government which has just six MPs in Scotland to decide our future without the consent of the people who live here.”

Sturgeon said she wouldn’t “set a precise level of infection” for when a vote could happen – “but you would want to see the COVID situation under control”.

The Scottish National Party conference has backed the Scottish government’s plans for the timing of another independence referendum at the “earliest” possible moment after the COVID-19 crisis.

The party said the date should be determined by “data-driven criteria” about when the public health crisis is over.

A Scottish independence referendum was held in 2014, when 55 percent voters backed staying in Britain. Soon after Sturgeon’s party secured the fourth consecutive victory in the Scottish parliamentary election in May, she pledged to push for a second independence referendum when the pandemic crisis has passed.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has previously said he will not approve a second independence referendum.

About the author

Avatar of Harry Johnson

Harry Johnson

Harry Johnson has been the assignment editor for eTurboNews for mroe than 20 years. He lives in Honolulu, Hawaii, and is originally from Europe. He enjoys writing and covering the news.

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